Vehicle emissions testing is part of the State of Colorado's overall strategy to improve air quality in and around the Denver-Boulder region. You can get additional information on program details by calling the Air Care Colorado Hotline at 303-456-7090 (or 303-684-0111 in the Longmont area). Se habla español. Hours of operation for the Air Care Colorado emissions testing centers are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Sundays and all state holidays. Best times to get a test and avoid waiting in line are Fridays and Saturdays, late afternoons, and during the middle two weeks of the month. Times to avoid are Mondays, the lunch hour, the day after any holiday, and the first few and last few days of the month.
If your vehicle fails an emissions test and needs repair, help is available
Your vehicle may have failed because it exceeded one or more of the allowable emissions
limits established by the state for that vehicle. Or, it may have failed because of visible smoke
or missing emissions control equipment, such as the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, or gas cap.
The I/M 240 emissions test is designed to detect pollutants emitted from your vehicle under
real-life operating conditions. You are responsible for making any necessary repairs to your
vehicle before it is retested. Only after the vehicle passes or a waiver has been granted will a
valid emissions sticker be issued. Keep in mind that if your vehicle registration is due for
renewal, it cannot be renewed without proof that the vehicle has passed the test or a waiver has
been granted.
To find out why your vehicle failed, review the Vehicle Inspection Report given to you at the
testing center. Test results are clearly documented under several key headings. To correct the
problem, take this report to Autoplex. We will help in accurately
diagnosing and repairing the problem. In most cases, simple corrections can be made to bring
the vehicle into compliance and allow it to be successfully retested.
Once adjustments or repairs are completed, your repair technician will complete the back of
the report before you return to the testing station.
Return the vehicle along with the completed Vehicle Repair Form on the back of your Vehicle
Inspection Report to any of the 15 Air Care Colorado testing centers in the Denver/Boulder
metro area. The vehicle will be retested and if it passes, an emissions sticker will be placed on
the windshield. You may now obtain your vehicle registration.
Remember, if your vehicle is repaired and retested at an Air Care Colorado station within 10
calendar days of failing the original test, the first retest is free. If the 10th calendar day lands
on a Sunday or holiday when emissions centers are closed, the free test will be extended to the
11th day.
Warranty Repairs
If your vehicle is still under warranty, you may be eligible for free warranty repairs from your
dealer. Eligibility for free warranty repairs is explained in detail in a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency brochure entitled, "If Your Car Just Failed An Emission Test..." This
brochure is available at all Envirotest-operated emissions testing facilities, and is distributed
along with other helpful brochures to customers when their vehicle fails the emissions test.
Repair Cost Limits
The limit is $75 for 1967 and older vehicles and $450 for 1968 and newer vehicles. Cost limits
apply to all vehicles regardless of whether they failed the idle test or the I/M 240 test. However,
these limits do not apply if the vehicle failed for visible smoke or missing emissions control
equipment. You may be eligible for a waiver if you have reached the spending limit and your
vehicle still won't pass the emissions test. Call 303-205-5603 to inquire about waivers.
